Frozen Hot Cocoa and Vacation Advice!

I was wondering if you have a recipe for a wonderfully decadent, yet non-calorific cold hot chocolate, especially since we're heading into summer. I'm thoroughly looking forward to any ideas. Thanks!

Choco-Crazy

Hi Choco-Crazy,

I'm totally on the same page as you, which is why I came up with a freezy hot chocolate recipe long ago. It was inspired by the world-famous and insanely delicious Frrrozen Hot Chocolate served at NYC's Serendipity 3. SO GOOD! The recipe can be found in the very first HG cookbook, Hungry Girl: Recipes and Survival Strategies for Guilt-Free Eating in the Real World. But (of course!) I'm sharing it with you right here and now. Check it out...

Directions:
Place hot cocoa mix and sweetener in a tall mug or glass. Add 1/4 cup hot water and stir to dissolve.

Add soymilk, vanilla-flavored syrup, and chocolate syrup. Mix well. Place in the fridge or freezer for several minutes, until completely chilled. Pour mixture into a blender and add ice. Blend at high speed until uniform. Pour into the tall mug or glass. Finish off with whipped topping. Drink up!

MAKES 1 SERVING

BTW, you can find that sugar-free calorie-free vanilla-flavored syrup in the coffee aisle of select markets. (Click here for more where-to-find info on the kind by Torani.) Happy guilt-free sipping!

Dear Hungry Girl,

I am going to Maui for ten days and am beyond excited, but I'm simultaneously scared to death that I will blow my diet. What can I eat there to avoid packing on the pounds? Feel free to go there to do some research. Thanks!

Maui Munchies

Dear Maui Munchies,

People tend to approach vacations in one of three different ways when it comes to eating. There's the "I'll eat everything that isn't nailed down because I'm on vacation" vacationer; there's the "I might bend the rules a little bit, but I'll still try to eat the right things" vacationer; and there's the super-rigid "I'm sticking to my strict diet and won't stray AT ALL" vacationer. To me, the first and third approaches are too extreme. Don't use the vacation as an excuse to shovel everything in your face -- unless you're totally prepared to deal with the inevitable post-trip weight gain. And don't be so restrictive that you can't enjoy your trip either. I say, aim for a nice balance. As for Maui and island vacations in general, I find those are the EASIEST as far as guilt-free eating is concerned. There's always fresh food around -- fruit (the pineapple in Hawaii is so good!), TONS of fish, salads, veggies, etc. The key here is to stick with those light-but-satisfying foods, and try not to go TOO crazy with piña coladas, coconut cream pie, and super-heavy dishes. Remember, it's about balance. If you make good choices at breakfast and lunch, treat yourself to a fancy frozen cocktail or a little dessert at dinner. Another reason island-y vacations are great in terms of eating? Spending a lot of time in a bathing suit or warm-weather clothes can inspire you to eat lighter -- I know when I have to wear less, I stay away from heavy foods so I'll feel comfortable in my clothing. For TONS more tips & tricks for your vacation, check out the Travel section of the Hungry Girl audio book. (Maybe listen to it on the plane!) Oh, one other thing: The more active you are, the more wiggle room you have with your diet. Dancing at a luau and walking on the beach totally count as exercise! Have a FANTASTIC trip. Wish I were going with you! (Any Hawaiian HG fans out there? Should I add HI to the next book tour?)

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